EFFECTS OF JUSTICIA GENDARUSSA LEAVES IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Justicia gendarussa belongs to the Acanthaceae family. The leaves and young shoots are anti-periodic, antispasmodic, cardiotonic, carminative, diaphoretic, emetic and febrifuge. The presence of phytochemicals such as tannins, alkaloids, proteins, flavonoids, triterpenes and saponins in the ethanolic extract was revealed by the preliminary phytochemical screening, keeping in view of medicinal importance the present study is an effort to investigate the biochemical parameters of Justicia gendarussa leaves in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats for 28 days. The acute toxicity studies of oral doses of ethanolic leaves extract in rats revealed that it has a high safety profile, as the extract/fractions were well tolerated by the animals. The test drug was administered for 28 days at a different dose level 50 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg for ethanolic extract was given orally. Bodyweight urine sugar was analyzed before and after the treatment of extract, while serum glucose was analyzed every week. The lipid and lipoprotein profile from serum was analyzed after 28 days. The ethanolic extract of Justicia gendarussa leaves significantly prevented the loss of body weight and reduce urine sugar. The results indicated that the ethanolic extract produced significant change (p < 0.001) in biochemical parameters.